The TT Premier Football League is the Trinidad and Tobago professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division in the Trinidad and Tobago football league system. Contested by ten clubs, the league is one of the world's few football leagues that does not operate on an automatic system of promotion and relegation. Seasons run from September to May, with teams playing 18 games each totaling 90 games in the season. Most games are played in the evenings of Fridays and Saturdays, with a few games played during weekday evenings. TT Premier Football League clubs also play in other competitions, such as the FA Trophy, League Cup, TOYOTA Classic, Goal Shield, and Pro Bowl against domestic clubs from other divisions; and against clubs from other countries in the CONCACAF Caribbean Cup and the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
The Trinidad and Tobago League Cup, or commonly known as the First Citizens Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the League Cup style football competition open for Trinidad and Tobago teams competing in the country's TT Pro League. Similar to the FA Trophy, it is played on a knockout basis in September and October towards the beginning of each Pro League season. Unlike the FA Trophy, where 36 teams enter each season from the top three tiers of the Trinidad and Tobago football league system and the Secondary Schools Football League, only teams from the TT Pro League compete in the league cup. The knockout tournament was inaugurated in 2000 and is currently sponsored by First Citizens Bank. Although the league cup is one of the three major domestic trophies attainable by Trinidad and Tobago league teams, it is perceived as a lower priority than the league championship and the FA Trophy. The current theme is Where Winners Reign, with TT$110,000 to the winner, TT$20,000 to the runners-up, semifinal winners receive TT$7,000, quarterfinal winners receive TT$5,000 and Play-off round winners receive TT$3,000.
The Trinidad and Tobago Classic, or commonly known as the TOYOTA Classic, is a knockout tournament for teams in Trinidad and Tobago's TT Pro League and National Super League. The football competition began in 2005, with TOYOTA as the primary sponsor, and is currently contested each October and November following the Pro League and Super League seasons.
The Trinidad and Tobago Goal Shield, or commonly known as the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield for sponsorship reasons, is a knockout tournament competition for football teams competing in the TT Pro League of Trinidad and Tobago. Similar to the First Citizens Cup, it is played on a knockout basis in April and May towards the end of each Pro League season. The structure of the competition not only allows the winner and runner-up healthy purses at the end of the tournament, but more so give an added incentive for more goals to be scored throughout the tournament. In particular, the winner of the competition is awarded TT$30,000 plus an additional TT$3,000 for every goal scored in the final, TT$2,000 for every goal in the semifinals, and TT$1,000 for each goal scored in the quarterfinals. Whereas, the runner-up is awarded TT$10,000 plus TT$1,500 for every goal scored in the final, TT$1,000 for every goal in the semifinals, and TT$500 for each goal scored in the quarterfinals. The knockout tournament is sponsored by Lucozade Sport and is therefore officially known as the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield.
The 2009 TT Pro League season was the eleventh season of the TT Pro League, the Trinidad and Tobago professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1999. A total of eleven teams contested the league, with San Juan Jabloteh the defending champions. The season began on 8 May, with Super Friday, and ended on 27 October. The format of the season was changed from each club playing three rounds to two rounds in the regular season to facilitate the national team with its attempt to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The 2009 Trinidad and Tobago Goal Shield was the inaugural season of the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield, which is a knockout tournament competition for teams in the TT Pro League. The structure of the competition not only allowed the winners and runners-up healthy purses at the end of the tournament, but more so give an added incentive for more goals to be scored throughout the tournament. In particular, the winner of the competition was awarded TT$20,000 plus an additional TT$3,000 for every goal scored in the final, TT$2,000 for every goal in the semifinals, and TT$1,000 for each goal scored in the quarterfinals. Whereas, the runner-up was awarded TT$10,000 plus TT$1,500 for every goal scored in the final, TT$1,000 for every goal in the semifinals, and TT$500 for each goal scored in the quarterfinals.
The 2008 Trinidad and Tobago League Cup was the ninth season of the First Citizens Cup, which is the league cup competition for Trinidad and Tobago teams competing in the TT Pro League. The slogan for the year's league cup was No Room for Losers and was sponsored by First Citizens Bank for the eighth consecutive year. W Connection entered as the defending champions after having defeated Caledonia AIA 2–0 in the 2007 final for their fourth consecutive league cup title.
The 2009 Trinidad and Tobago League Cup was the tenth season of the First Citizens Cup, which is the league cup competition for Trinidad and Tobago teams competing in the TT Pro League. Continuing from previous seasons, the slogan for the year's league cup was No Room for Losers and was sponsored by First Citizens Bank for the ninth consecutive year. To keep with the tag-line, this year's edition will only reward prizes to the cup winners and runner-up. The Savonetta Boys of W Connection entered as the five-time defending cup holders by winning the 2008 league cup over Joe Public 6–5 in a penalty shootout after the match ended 2–2 in regulation.
The 2008 Trinidad and Tobago Classic was the fourth season of the TOYOTA Classic, which is a knockout tournament competition for teams in the TT Pro League and the National Super League. The tournament took place at the conclusion of the 2008 season. Joe Public entered as the tournament's defending champion.
The 2009 Trinidad and Tobago Classic was the fifth season of the TOYOTA Classic, which is a knockout tournament competition for teams in the TT Pro League and the National Super League. The tournament took place at the conclusion of the 2009 season. San Juan Jabloteh entered as the tournament's defending champion. The tournament commenced on 30 October, with 16 teams competing in single elimination matches.
The 2009 Trinidad and Tobago FA Trophy was the 80th season of the FA Trophy, which is the oldest football competition for teams in Trinidad and Tobago. The tournament took place at the conclusion of the 2009 TT Pro League season. Caledonia AIA entered as the tournament's defending champion. The tournament commenced on 15 November, with 32 teams competing in single elimination matches and concluded on 9 December.
The 2009 Trinidad and Tobago Pro Bowl was the sixth season of the Digicel Pro Bowl, which is a knockout tournament competition for teams in the TT Pro League. The tournament took place at the conclusion of the 2009 season. Caledonia AIA entered as the tournament's defending champion. The tournament commenced on 17 November 2009 with 10 teams competing in single elimination matches and concluded with the final on 11 December.
The 2008 Trinidad and Tobago Pro Bowl was the fifth season of the Courts Pro Bowl, which is a knockout tournament competition for teams in the TT Pro League. W Connection entered as the tournament's defending champion. The tournament commenced on 6 May, with 10 teams competing in single elimination matches and concluded on 23 May, with Caledonia AIA defeating Defence Force 2–0 to claim the title.
The 2010 Trinidad and Tobago Goal Shield was the second edition of the annual Lucozade Sport Goal Shield, which is a knockout tournament competition for teams in the TT Pro League. W Connection entered as the defending champions after they defeated Defence Force 3–0 in the inaugural tournament. Continuing from the previous season, the competition not only allowed the winner and runner-up healthy purses at the end of the tournament, but more so give an added incentive for more goals to be scored throughout the tournament. In particular, the winner of the competition was awarded TT$20,000 plus an additional TT$3,000 for every goal scored in the final, TT$2,000 for every goal in the semifinals, and TT$1,000 for each goal scored in the quarterfinals. Whereas, the runner-up was awarded TT$10,000 plus TT$1,500 for every goal scored in the final, TT$1,000 for every goal in the semifinals, and TT$500 for each goal scored in the quarterfinals.
The 2012 Trinidad and Tobago Charity Shield was the inaugural edition of the Charity Shield, which was a football match that opened the 2012–13 TT Pro League season. The match was played at Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella on 8 September 2012, between the winners of the previous season's Pro League and Pro Bowl competitions. The match was contested by the 2012 Digicel Pro Bowl winners, Defence Force, and the champions of the 2011–12 Pro League, W Connection. The Savonetta Boys won the match 2–0 with goals from Shahdon Winchester and Joevin Jones, who was later named the Man of the Match.
The 2012 Trinidad and Tobago Goal Shield was the third season of the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield, which is a knockout tournament competition for Trinidad and Tobago teams competing in the TT Pro League. North East Stars entered as the Goal Shield holders after defeating San Juan Jabloteh 1–0 in the 2010 final. Continuing from previous seasons, the competition not only allowed the winner and runner-up healthy purses at the end of the tournament, but more so give an added incentive for more goals to be scored throughout the tournament. In particular, the winner of the competition was awarded TT$20,000 plus an additional TT$3,000 for every goal scored in the final, TT$2,000 for every goal in the semifinals, and TT$1,000 for each goal scored in the quarterfinals. Whereas, the runner-up was awarded TT$10,000 plus TT$1,500 for every goal scored in the final, TT$1,000 for every goal in the semifinals, and TT$500 for each goal scored in the quarterfinals.
The 2013 Trinidad and Tobago Pro Bowl was the ninth season of the Digicel Pro Bowl, which is a knockout football tournament for Trinidad and Tobago teams competing in the TT Pro League. For the third consecutive season, the Pro Bowl concluded the Pro League calendar. Additionally, for the second year the winner of the Pro Bowl was invited to compete in the Digicel Charity Shield to open the 2013–14 Pro League season. Defence Force entered as the Pro Bowl holders having defeated Caledonia AIA by a score of 5–2 in the 2012 final in Hasely Crawford Stadium. The competition commenced on 17 May with all eight Pro League teams competing in single elimination beginning in the quarterfinals and concluded on 29 May with the final.
The 2014 Trinidad and Tobago Pro Bowl is the tenth season of the Digicel Pro Bowl, which is a knockout football tournament for Trinidad and Tobago teams competing in the TT Pro League. For the fourth consecutive season, the Pro Bowl concluded the Pro League calendar. Additionally, for the third year the winner of the Pro Bowl was invited to compete in the Digicel Charity Shield to open the 2014–15 Pro League season. W Connection entered as the Pro Bowl holders having defeated North East Stars by a score of 4–3 in a penalty shootout after the match ended in 0–0 in regulation during the 2013 final in Hasely Crawford Stadium. The competition commenced on 2 May with all nine Pro League teams competing in single elimination beginning with the qualifying round and concluded on 23 May with the final.
The history of the TT Pro League has its roots spanning back to the 1970s and 1980s when Trinidad and Tobago experienced an upswing in support for its domestic football. Several of the national team players featured for Defence Force during its dominance of the National League, which included the Teteron Boys becoming the first Trinidadian and only second club from CONCACAF to accomplish the continental treble in 1985. In addition, the national team also rose to prominence in the late 1980s after falling short by one match of qualification for the nation's first FIFA World Cup in 1989. Optimism for the growth and community interest of football in Trinidad and Tobago was at an all-time high. However, the early 1990s would mark a low point in Trinidad and Tobago football. In 1993, after a streak of poor performances, the Soca Warriors gave its worst ever showing in the 1993 Caribbean Cup after finishing a disappointing third, which was preceded by an early exit from its '94 for Sure campaign to qualify for the 1994 FIFA World Cup hosted in the United States.
2017 Digicel Pro Bowl 